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April Twilights and Other Poems

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<h3>THE SWEDISH MOTHER (NEBRASKA)</h3> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> “You shall hear the tale again— Hush, my red-haired daughter.” Brightly burned the sunset gold On the black pond water. </div> <div class="stanza"> Red the pasture ridges gleamed Where the sun was sinking. Slow the windmill rasped and wheezed Where the herd was drinking. </div> <div class="stanza"> On the kitchen doorstep low Sat a Swedish mother; In her arms one baby slept, By her sat another. </div> <div class="stanza"> “All time, ’way back in old countree, Your grandpa, he been good to me. Your grandpa, he been young man, too, And I been yust li’l’ girl, like you. All time in spring, when evening come, We go bring sheep an’ li’l’ lambs home. We go big field, ’way up on hill, Ten times high like our windmill. One time your grandpa leave me wait While he call sheep down. By de gate I sit still till night come dark; Rabbits run an’ strange dogs bark, Old owl hoot, an’ your modder cry, She been so ’fraid big bear come by.{53} Last, ’way off, she hear de sheep, Li’l’ bells ring and li’l’ lambs bleat. Then all sheep come over de hills, Big white dust, an’ old dog Nils. Then come grandpa, in his arm Li’l’ sick lamb dat somet’ing harm. He so young then, big and strong, Pick li’l’ girl up, take her ’long,— Poor li’l’ tired girl, yust like you,— Lift her up an’ take her too. Hold her tight an’ carry her far,— ’Ain’t no light but yust one star. Sheep go ‘bah-h,’ an’ road so steep; Li’l’ girl she go fast asleep.” </div> <div class="stanza"> Every night the red-haired child Begs to hear the story, When the pasture ridges burn With the sunset glory. </div> <div class="stanza"> She can never understand, Since the tale ends gladly, Why her mother, telling it, Always smiles so sadly. </div> <div class="stanza"> Wonderingly she looks away Where her mother’s gazing; Only sees the drifting herd, In the sunset grazing. {54}</div> </div></div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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